Voyage of the Matthew: John Cabot and the Discovery of North America

In 1497, the first Europeans set foot on the N. Amer. mainland & claimed it for England. Led by John Cabot, a small band of sailors braved the stormy, uncharted seas of the North Atlantic in a single, three-masted sailing ship. Yet remarkably little is known about John Cabot or his daring life. On the 500th anniversary of his discovery another crew of intrepid sailors set out to make the same journey, in a replica of Cabot's ship -- accompanied by a public TV camera crew. This beautifully illustrated book, the companion volume to the PBS show, combines historical research into the great Age of Discovery with the lure of exploring new territory & confronting age-old challenges.